20. Wally
One more game remains between us and the end of an era.
Win or lose the final matchup for the Alpha Cup, Simon, Kel, and I plan to hang up our skates.
We kept the decision quiet from the press and the front office.
The fans expect a dynasty. The League executives expect us to sign massive contract extensions.
My priorities shifted the minute Vayda accepted our bond.
I want a quiet life. I want to build a secure future for my pack away from the glare of the arena lights.
My knees ache after a decade of checking opposing centers into the boards.
My lower back twinges every time I lace up my skates.
Simon nurses a lingering shoulder injury every single morning, icing the joint before breakfast. Kel wants to build custom furniture in a quiet shop instead of throwing punches on the ice for the fans.
We crave a domestic life. We want to wake up every morning in our own beds instead of an endless string of sterile hotel rooms. We want to spend our days taking care of our mate and our disabled Alpha packmate.
Transitioning to retirement requires a solid foundation.
I throw my SUV into park in the driveway of Vayda's house.
I give a curt nod to the private security guard sitting in a black truck by the curb.
We hired the detail weeks ago to keep the media out of the neighborhood.
The tabloids backed off after Simon broadcasted our claim, but the championship game will bring the vultures right back to our front door.
They want a distraction. They want to rattle the star players before the puck drops for the Cup.
I grab my tablet from the passenger seat.
Stepping out of the truck, I lock the doors and head for the porch.
The warm June air fills my lungs. Silence blankets the neighborhood, offering a stark contrast to the roaring arenas we dominate every week.
I roll my shoulders to release the lingering tension from morning practice.
Walking into the house brings a sense of peace.
The front door opens straight into the living room.
The layout feels dated, but she keeps the space very cozy.
Three giant hockey players take up a massive amount of room, but we make the close quarters work.
Kel's massive size-thirteen boots sit on the rug right inside the entrance.
I step around them to push the front door shut until the deadbolt clicks into place.
Across the living room, a small arched hallway leads straight into the kitchen and out to the backyard.
From my spot by the front door, I catch a glimpse of the kitchen counters holding Simon's meal prep containers and large protein powder tubs.
Boxes of Brendan's thickened water and feeding supplies sit stacked in straight rows in the corner near the pantry.
I turn my attention back to the living room. Brendan's specialized wheelchair occupies the space next to the denim-blue sofa. We love being here. The house holds a ton of love. I just want to offer her options for our future together.
Vayda sits on the sofa next to Brendan. She holds a paperback book in her lap.
Brendan rests his head against the padded backrest of his chair.
He hums a steady, content rhythm. His hands curl close to his chest in a relaxed posture.
Vayda looks up when my boots hit the floorboards. A welcoming smile brightens her face.
Seeing her relaxed in her own living room fuels my drive to protect this environment. I want to build a custom space where she feels this safe every single day.
"The team meeting ran late." I drop my keys on the tray near the door.
"Championship prep takes time." Vayda marks her page and closes the book. "Are the guys coming home soon?"
"Simon went to the grocery store. Kel went to the gym for an extra skate." I tap the screen of my tablet to wake it up. "Can we go talk in your room for a minute? I want to show you something before they get back."
Vayda nods. She reaches over and gives Brendan a gentle pat on the arm. She stands up from the sofa and leads the way across the living room. Right before the arched entrance to the kitchen, she turns into the other hallway on the right.
I follow her. Looking straight down the hall, the closed door of the master bedroom stares back at me. Vayda moved Brendan into that room a few years ago so he could have the attached bathroom and the extra floor space for his medical bed and his Hoyer lift.
She turns to the right, pushing open the door to the tiny guest bedroom she relegated herself to.
The space shrinks the moment my shoulders clear the doorframe. I fill the room. The tiny closet behind her bulges with her clothes. A small dresser takes up the opposite wall, providing a narrow strip of floorboards to walk on.
Vayda sits cross-legged on her king-sized mattress.
The massive bed swallows the tiny room, leaving barely an inch of space between the mattress and the walls.
I sit down on the edge of the bed. The springs creak under my weight.
The air in the small room grows thick with our combined scents. I stretch my legs out.
We possess the resources to give her a sprawling estate. She spent years sacrificing her own comfort to keep her family afloat. She deserves a sanctuary designed specifically for her comfort. She deserves a massive walk-in closet and a bathroom with a soaking tub.
"I want to start planning our next chapter together." I keep my voice calm and even. "We have one match left. After that, we hang up our skates. We retire. We become stay-at-home Alphas."
Vayda looks at the glowing screen in my hands. She traces the smooth edge of the tablet case with her index finger. The tension in the air shifts into a quiet curiosity.
"We want to build a permanent home base." I turn my body to face her, resting my elbows on my knees. "We want a secure, private location for the long haul. I hired an architectural firm to draw up some options for our future. I hope you are open to looking at a few ideas."
I open the architectural app. I pull up the digital files the design firm sent over this morning. The screen displays detailed, high-resolution renderings.
"Option A." I turn the screen toward her. "We buy the house next door. We knock down the fence, combine the lots, and build a massive addition onto this current house."
Vayda studies the rendering on the glass. She takes in the massive expansion mapped out over the familiar property lines.
"Option B." I swipe my finger across the screen, bringing up the next slide. "We gut this place to the studs. We add a second story. We push the exterior walls out to the property line. We live in a rental for eight months while the crew works."
Waiting a beat, I gauge her reaction. I swipe to the final, most detailed file. I hand the tablet over to her. The blue light from the screen illuminates her face.
"Option C." I tap the center of the schematic. "We buy a massive plot of land out in the foothills. We build a custom compound. Gated driveway. Absolute privacy."
I point out the specific rooms on the massive digital floor plan. I want her to see the effort we put into this idea. We mapped out every single detail to accommodate this pack.
"A dedicated wing for Brendan." I pinch the screen, zooming in on the wide hallway.
"Extra wide doors for his wheelchair. Ceiling tracks for his Hoyer lift installed right into the drywall.
A massive roll-in shower. A bedroom big enough for his medical bed and a seating area for us to hang out with him.
Soundproof walls to keep the house noise from bothering his sensory issues. "
Vayda inhales a ragged breath. Her eyes scan the intricate details of Brendan's proposed suite. She traces the wide doorways with her thumb.
"Simon gets a commercial kitchen with a huge island." I drag the floorplan to the center of the house. "Kel gets a detached workshop for his tools. We get a master suite with a huge nesting bed. We get a backyard with zero neighbors looking through the fence."
I pull my hand back. I let her hold the tablet. I let the reality of the custom compound sink in.
"The final game is in three days." I meet her eyes. "After that, we belong to you full time. We want to provide a custom home for this pack."
The hum of the central air conditioning fills the small bedroom, fighting the warm June afternoon beating against the siding of the house.
I rest my elbows on my knees. The edge of the king-sized mattress digs into the backs of my thighs.
We take up way too much room. The three of us squeeze into these narrow hallways and tiny rooms every single day.
I want to give her a sprawling estate with endless square footage.
I want to build a secure compound where the media can never reach us again.
I let Vayda process the massive amount of information sitting in her lap. She stares at the glowing screen of the tablet. Her eyes dart across the wide hallways and the specialized rooms I highlighted for Brendan's care. The blue light from the device illuminates the delicate features of her face.
The decision requires absolute certainty. Building a compound or renovating a home takes a massive commitment of time and energy. She bites her lower lip, deep in thought.
"The choice belongs to you." I keep my voice a low rumble in the quiet room. "We possess the money to fund any of these options. We stand behind your decision."